National Youth Foundation

Ukrainian

Youth Intervention

in Romania

December 2022

Quick links

About youth intervention

National Youth Foundation (FNT), together with its member foundations, have contributed, since the first phase of Romania's response, to the humanitarian crisis in different ways:

donation
collection points,
transit centers etc.

Since end of March 2022, FNT started to implement the model of safe space (youth centre) for young Ukrainians who came from the conflict zone, based on the model already developed at the network level. The support from international non-governmental organizations (ActionAid International, Norwegian Refugee Council) enhanced the interventions – by increasing number of staff specifically dedicated to such intervention (Timisoara, Botoșani, Tulcea) or by opening new youth centers (Bucharest, Suceava). Now FNT is coordinating 5 youth centers in key points of the country, where young Ukrainians have chosen to start a new life, and is about to expand the intervention in other 6 location with support of Plan International.

About youth intervention

Up to the present moment, more than 1000 of young Ukrainian people have accessed to educational, professional or recreational programs and activities. Furthermore, each center has specialized staff who offer specialized support for learning the Romanian language, but also the English language, essential for them to be able to continue their lives as normal as possible. These Youth centers are safe spaces for young people, but also an opportunity to foster their inclusion in host communities.

what

the purpuse?

Solidarity

Young people have been a sector that has been ignored since the beginning of the crisis, precisely because they were apparently not a priority. This is completely incorrect, not only because they make up a significant portion of immigrants who came in to the our country, but also because a crisis of this nature can have a significant impact on both their development and their ability to integrate into the community.

Moreover, the involvement and development of support programs is one of the ways in which intervention can be carried out on young Ukrainians, so that they do not resort to negative defense mechanisms: alcohol, drugs or even violence.

Thus, we publicly asked the relevant Ministry to prioritize the support given to young people from the armed conflict zone in Ukraine, and considering the fact that things were not materializing and that there were no concrete measures, we directed our efforts to look for financiers in other parts, especially at International NGOs.

Moreover, one of the factors that had to be taken into consideration was the fact that it was necessary that everything to take place as quickly as possible, precisely so that those crossing the border would have the necessary support, receive the assistance they needed, but also start Romanian language classes, so that they can manage in society, especially regarding the basic needs.

5 youth centres

Youth centres are spaces where young people from the local community (Ukrainians and Romanians) have access to services and activities as support of inclusion in local communities, but also of actions to facilitate access to educational, professional or recreational programs and activities. Within each youth center, in order to eliminate language or cultural barriers, but also to create a space where young Ukrainians feel safe, the teams are developed with Romanian youth workers, as well as Ukrainian youth workers. Furthermore, each individual center has specialized staff who offer specialized support for learning the Romanian language, but also the English language, essential for them to be able to continue their lives as normal as possible.